Distributing system.



I. T. COWLEY.

DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19. 1914.

Wkneaaes.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0, WASHINGTON, D. c.

Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

4 SHEETSSHEET 1.

Macy

J. T. COWLEY. DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19, 1914. 1 170,04 Patented FI 10.1,1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

i 2W 2 oh mm mm M a w? my THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 60., WASHINGTON, n. c.

J. T. COWLEY.

DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM.

APPLICATTON FILED MAR.19,1914.

Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

THE COLUMBIA FLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. 'c.

J. T. COWLEY.

DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM.

- APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19, 1914.

Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Inventor UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMEST." COWLEY,-OF NORTH SCITU'ATE, MASSACHUSETTS;'ASSIGNOR"TO THEFIIAMSON' COMPANY, or. BOSTON, :MASSACHUSETTS, A: ooRroRArIouoF-maw: JERSEY:

DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM.

1 1 70;()48. Specification of Letters Patent. P tented' E'eb; 1;, 19 16:

Applicationfiled March 19, 1914.. Serial No. 825,735.

T0 all whom it may concern Be it k'noWnthatIf, JAuEsT'. CowLE a citizen of the United States, lBSlCllIlg at North Scituate, in the county of Plymouth andState of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Distributing, Systems, of which the. follow ing is aspecification.

Thls j' invention relates to despatch appa ratus for. merchandise,- written messages,

and the. like, and more. especially, to what,

is known as a pick-up system.

Heretofore in pick:up apparatus the number of stations in agiven line has been necessarily limitedby the, impracticability I cumbersome or else too delicate in its adj ustments.

One of'thevobject'softhe present system is.

to enable the provision of any desired number of stations,as for example, fifty or one hundred or more, in a given line; all of equivalent partof the conveying mechanism is adapted to serve any one of these stations; thuseflecting a material saving of time in the despatch ofmessages, parcels or the like, .from one given point to another along the length of the system.

These and other objects of my invention will behereinafter referred to and the novel elements and combinations of means whereby said objects may be attained will be more particularly pointed. out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings which form a part thereof and in which like reference characters designate like parts in the respective views, I have shown, by way of exemplifioation, a preferred construction; but as I am aware of various changes and modifications. which may be'mad'e herein without-departing from the spirit of my invention, I desire to be limited only by the'scope of said claims, broadly considered in the light of my disclosure.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a 'the lower tracks in Fig 8.-

somewhat diagrammatic representation of a fragment of a system of the;,character; in. question. F ig. 1? is a similar view of an; other fragment of saidjsystem; wh ich forv present purposes may be regardedfas acontinua-tion ofj'the part shown inEig. 1;. Fig. 2 is awiring diagramofsaidsystem F ig}; 3 is a detail section taken online IiII-IIfIf of Fig; 2. Fig. 4. is a similar, section taken; on line' IY-'IV- ofFig. 2; Figs isa sec: tion, similar; to Fig. 4, of a subestation ,puslaj button box. Fig., 5 is a detail'section taken' on line V' V of"Fig 2; Fig. 6:18.121. detail;

elevation, drawn to an enlarged scale of the cam-switch shown diagrammatically 1n, Fig.1 at each of theseveral'sub or clerk stations. Fig. 7is a detail ofa latchwhich' forms apart of the switch mechanism. Fig;

8 is an end'elevation of, the apparatus shown in Fig. 6'. Fig; 9' is a detailsection taken on line IXIX of Fig. j 6; Fig. lO'is' a rear elevation of the car shown in position upon i plan view of the message clamp which. is carried by saidcar; the clamp being-drawn to a smaller scale than that to whichfit isshown in Fig. 8.

In Figs. landl Whichmay properly be considered.together, the track or'wayalong which the carriers travel" comprises tracks 1, which in the presentycase are in vertical alinement, being looped at the respective, ends of thegli'ne. The carriers, broadly dfes ignated' 2, are propelled 'along thistrack bya cable 3'to which theygare preferablyper manently connected; the cable in turn bef ing driven from one end of'the line asshown to the left in Fig. Herean elec tric motor 1 drives a belt 5 which passes around a pulley; 6; and upon the shaft 7 of" this pulley is a second pulley S'With which" the cable 3, is in engagement. The cable passes around a pulley 9 at its right hand end, as shown in Fig. 1", and thispulley is suitably-geared, as by means of a belt 10 and pulleys 11-, and 12, to an intermediate shaft 13; This shaft carries a pulley 14 which drives a belt 15, and the latter drives a pulley 16 mounted, upon a shaft 17; which carries a drum 18, shoWn in detail in Fig, 3 This drum is adaptedto frictionally engage, and thereby rotate in the direction of the arrows shown thereupon, a disk 1.9,m0unted', upon a spindle 20 journaledinthe respective extremities of a bifurcated armfil, Thisj'lglo hereinafter described.

here noted, is normally rotated clockwise by tation of the disk. Mounted upon the arm arm is made of electrically conductive material and is preferably resilient. Attached to the spindle 20, as indicated in Fig. 3, is a light spiral spring 22, the outer extremity of which is connected to the disk 19.), This disk is of conductive material and is in elec-. trical communication via spindle 20 and arm 21 with a binding post 23 from which extends a wire 24. The periphery of disk 19 is practically encircled by the annular wall of a shallow cup 25 of insulating material; a gap 25 being left in this insulating material of sufficient width and depth to enable the edge of the disk 19 at this "point to contact with the conductive surface of the drum 18 when the disk 19 has been rotated counter-clockwise a. determined distance, as viewed in Fig. 3, inthe manner Disk 19, it may be its spring 22 to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 3: a pin or stop 26 engaging the arm 21 and limiting the clock-wise r0" 21' is an armature 27 which is preferably insulated from said arm; said armature being adapted, when its electro-magnet 28 is energized, to draw the disk 19 inwardly toward the drum 18. This forces the insu lating material 25 into engagement with said drum and as the latter is rotated clockwise, disk 19 will be rotated against the action of its spring 22, at a determined speed, until finally the gap 25 will be encountered by drum 18 and the conductive surface of the latter will directly engage the-exposedportion of the periphery of conductive disk 19, which will complete an electric circuit to'be hereinafter more fully described. The conductive shell 18 of the drum is preferably insulated from the core thereof, which is in engagement with shaft 17, by insulating material 29; and a resilient con tact strip-'30 lightly engages one end of the druin'as shown in Fig. 2. This strip extends up to a binding post 31 to which is attached a wire 32. The frame or casing 33 within, which drum-18 is mounted may also conveniently be made of insulating material and it preferably has mounted thereon a series of disks 19; the number of these corresponding tothe number of sub-stationsto be served. jEa ch contact and timing disk 19 will hence have its own supporting arm 21 and'ma'gnet 28; drum 18 merely serving as a convenient source of power common to all 7 of the timing disks and being further used as a contact member common to all of said disks, whereby to simplify the electrical connections.

Referring again to Fig. 1, the central station or desk34 is provided. with'a box 35 upon which, are a series of buttons 36, one for each sub-station; these buttons be-. ing conveniently numbered or otherwise markedin correspondence with the particular statlons to which they respectively relate.

As shown in Fig. 4, each of these buttons is pivotally connected to a crank arm or carries a contact strip 39, insulated there from; said strip being adapted for engagement with contacts 40 insulatedly mounted upon the underside of the top of the box.

These contacts are respectively in electrical 7 connection with wires 41 and 42. The -de-- pending arm of the crank member carries an armature 43, preferably lnsulated therefrom,

which armature is adapted to co-act'with an electro-magnet 4 1, when the latter isenergized, to hold the member 37 in position to Each circuit maintaining magnet as may be mounted upon a bracket 45 secured to the inside of the caslng or box 35, and the lower close the circuit between wires 41' and 12-.

extremities of springs 38 may also be con-' veniently connected to this bracket. It will be understood, of course, that there is provided one magnet 44 and corresponding parts for each button 36 and as thereare a series of wires 11 and 12, one of each for each station, for convenience these wires have been respectively designated 11, 41*,

41 etc. and 42-, 12 42*, etc. Each wire 41,1.

41 etc., extends to a corresponding electro magnet 16, shown 1n 'detall in Flg. 5 as bebeing of course one magnet 46 (comprising two cores and their co ls) for each sub-stamg mounted in a casing or box 47; there tion. A wire 48 from each of these magnets extends down in said box to the lower end of a corresponding spring contact 49. Op

posite each of these contacts 49 is a cofrr'e sponding spring contact 49 which is'in electrical connection with a wire 50, and since there are a series of these wires shown in the wiring diagram they have for con-- venience been designated .50, 50 50*, etc. Below each magnet 46 is its armature 51 mounted upon an upright insulating support 52; said support also carrying hollow truncated conical contacts 53, and hencewhen the member 52 is driven upwardly by pressure upon the button 5-1 which projects outwardly through the casing 47; the circuit which includes contacts 19 and -19 isclosed, if it be not open at some other point and each of these buttons'is preferably pro vided with a stem which extends upwardly therefrom through a guiding cup or shell 55; the upper extremity of each of-said stems-being rigidly connectedto' its corre -j sponding element 52. Within'each-cup. 55

isa light spring 56 which normally urges the corresponding button 5% and, of course, the corresponding contacts 53 to their respective lower positions in which they are shown in Fig. 5.

Referring to the sub-stations shown in F ig; 1 it will be observed that each of these have been'broadly designated with a letter corresponding to the electrical connections leading thereto; station cl corresponding to button 5%, c to 5e, Z) to 54*, a. to ti and sta-' tion 0 to button 54. At each of these stations is a solenoid or some equivalent electromagnetic device 57 or, in correspondence with the system of nomenclature used 57 57", etc. Each of these solenoids is connected by a lead 58, 58*, 58 etc., with a wire 59 which constitutes, in the present case, the negative lead to the source of current, just as wire 32, previously referred to, constitutes the main positive lead. Thesecond connection to each of these solenoids has been respectively designated, as per the foregoing 24, 24c, 24", etc.; wire 2% having previously been referred to in the discussion of Fig. 3. As best shown in Figs. 6 and 8 the core 60 of a solenoid 57 (57 57, etc.,) carries upon its upper extremity an upstanding pin or extension 61 which is adapted for engagement with the free end of the spring contact 62. So long as any given solenoid 57 is unenergizedits solenoid will remain in its lower position and the contact 62 will resiliently engage a corresponding contact 63. A wire 6%, 64264", etc., leads from each contact 62 to the corresponding wire 41, 1 41", etc, and a second wire 65, 65 ,-65 etc., leads from each of the contacts 63 to the said negativelead59. Connected to the lower extremity of each core 60 is a latch-link 66 which in turn is connected to a pivoted arm 67 which is preferably bifurcated. as shown in Fig. 9, forthe reception of said link.

Arm 67 may be conveniently mounted upon a shouldered stud 68 which is journaled in the offset end 69' of a fixed cam 69. The latter is preferably secured to one of the brackets 7 O which support the tracks *1. The free end of arm 67 is preferably cammed, as at 67, and is adapted to be swung down into its dotted line position, shown in Fig. 6, when solenoid 57 is energized. I also prefer to bend the extremity of this camined arm laterally, as at 67 (see Fig.9) and to connect a cord 71 thereto as indicated in Fig. 6.: Thearm 67 has therein-a pin 72 to which is connected a spring 73, the other extremity of whichis suitably attached to a corresponding pin.73 which projects upwardly from the inner side of a latch 74 so that spring;73 tends not only. to elevate cam.

67 but also, by reason of the weight of said movable cam, to move the latch into its latching position. The latch 7 a is pivotally mounted upon the upper surface of member 69 adjacent the link 66; the pivot pin 75 of said latch extending vertically down into said member so that the latch swings in a horizontal plane. This latch is normally in engagement with or, in other words, is hooked under the surface 66 of the link latchand affords a stop for downward movement of the core 60 and for the corresponding upward movement of the cam (37. When solenoid 57 is energized and its core thereby lifted, link 66 is drawn upwardly until the latch is snapped under surface 66 of said link, which looks the core in its upper position and correspondingly the cam 67 in its lower or dotted line position. The latch 74 hasa cam shaped arm 74L which overhangs the surface of the fixed cam 69 and is adapted for engagement with and to be driven back by the head 76 of a stud upon which is mounted a roller 76' carried 7 upon the upper extremity of a lever 77, one

of which levers is positioned upon each of the carriers 2, above referred to.

Referring to Fig. 8, it will be seen that lever 77 is pivotally connected at 78 to an operating arm 7 9 which is in turn pivotally mounted at 80 upon the carriage 81 of the carrier 2. A spring 82 which is connected to the upper arm of the lever 77 tends to hold said lever substantially at right angles to the arm 79; a stop 83 carried by the lever 77 engaging one side of said arm. Lever 77 is, however, adapted for movement independently of arm 79, to a limited extent; or in other words it may be moved into the dotted line position 77 shown in Fig. 8 without displacing said arm. At such time, however, a projection 84 disposed at the outerextremity of lever 77, is in engagement with the outer side of arm 79; so that thereafter if lever 77 be moved toward its dotted line position 77, arm 79 will be swung counter-clockwise together therewith,

and since this arm is rigidly connected to the lower jaw 85 of the carrier clamp, said jaw will be swung down into its dotted line position 85 shown in said figure, and will thereby release any article which may have been supported thereby. The upper jaw 86 of this clamp is preferably rigidly connected to the carriage 81. The clamp, per se, illustrated is one commonly in use in pick-up systems and is preferably made of bent wire; suitable ears or loops S7 and 88 being provided to retain, for example, a fiat pack age. or sheet of paper in place between the clamp jaws; extensions 87 preventing displacement of the carried article in the direction of the length of the carriage and extension' or loop 88 preventing displacement of said article laterally with respect to said carriage. The cable 3 is preferably in sections which may have the ends thereof looped around eyelets 89; the latter in turn being attached to hooks or eyelets 90 which project rearwardly from a suitable extension 90 upon the back of the carriage 81. The cable is of course substantially taut. The upper and lower edges or surfaces of the carriage 81 may be grooved to adapt them for secure engagement with the tracks 1, as indicated in Figs. 8 and 10; and I prefer to form the carriage of superposed plates, the interior ones of which may be of fiber or the like to reduce noise. Upon the rear of the carriage is a sloping cam 91 connected to the carriage by screws or in any other suitable manner, said cam being adapted for engagement with the buttons 54, 54 etc., so that each carriage is drawn along by the cable beneath these buttons at the central station, they will be successively and gradually moved up into their casing 47. At each of the sub-stations and also at the central or main station or desk there is a shelf 92 into which articles to be conveyed may be placed by hand and from which said articles may be automatically removed by apassing carrier. There is also disposed at each station a receptacle 93 into which said articles may be deposited from the passing car'iers; this receptacle in each case beingpreferably open on one side thereof to facilitate the removal of said articles therefrom. At each of the sub-stations there is also a casing corresponding to the casing 35 and having therein a button 36' adapted to actuate a mechanism substantially identical with that shown in Fig. 4; the only difference being that wire 42 in Fig. 4 is omitted, the wire corresponding to 41 in Fig. 4 being designated 42. From each of the several magnets 44 in the casing 35 there extends downwardly a wire 94 which connects with the wire 32 previously referred to and each of these wires 94 may have a suitable resistance 95 interposed therein, as shown in Fig. 2. Cor-respond ingly a wire 94 extends from each of the maintaining magnets 44 in casings 35, to the negative lead 59. It will of course be understood that since there is buta single button 36 at each sub-station there will be but a single magnet 44 in each casing 35, unless it be desired to extend the hereindescribed system so as to permit of intercommunication between sub-stations.

The operation of the system is as follows: Assuming that the operator stationed at the main or central desk wishes to despatch a message, such for example, as a telegram, to the operative at station 0. The central station operator will thereupon press the button 36'marked O, which corresponds to station 0, just as button A corresponds to station a, button 13 to station 7), etc. This action swings the lever 37 corresponding to contacts 40. No current flows however since the branch which includes wire 42 is open at station 0 and the branch which includes wire 41 is openat 49-49. first'carrier which passes below the casing 47, will cause the successive elevation of each of the buttons 54, 54, etc., which will complete said circuit at 4949. Thereupon current flows from wire 32 through the wire 94 corresponding to button 36-O, thence through the corresponding magnet 44, energizing the same, and thereby retaining lever 37 in the position into which it has been moved. The current emerging from magnet 44 passes via wire 41 to the magnet 46 in circuit therewith, energizing it and thereby retaining contact '53 in its engagement with contacts 4949 after button 54 However, the 1 has been freed by the onward movement of the carrier. The current then passes via wire to the magnet 28 for station 0, en ergizing' it and'thereby snapping the insulating strip 25 into engagement with drum 18. From magnet 28 the current flows through wire 97 to wire 64, through contacts '62 and 63 and wire 65 to the negativelead 59. There 18 of course a wire 9797"'97 7 etc, corresponding to each sub-station as, in

like manner, there are pairs of contacts 6263, which forconvenience have been designated 62% 63 62 63*; etc., at the respective stations. Continuing the description of the operation ofthe' system, the actuation of the remaining buttons 54, 54",

etc., will have no eflect thereupon since in each of the circuits to which these buttons pertain there is still a break across the contacts 40 of each branch of each of said circuits owing to the fact that but one button 93'disposed' at the-central station, and to thereafter maintain jaw 85 in its open posi tion until said jaw arrives substantially opposite the middle of shelf 92 at said station; whereupon the fixed cam permits the spring 96 upon the carrier to swing the lower jaw upwardly, its central or stem-like portion passing through the aperture 92 in the .upper part of the shelf and'the jaws 85 and 86 thereupon clamping or clasping the article to be conveyed therebetween. Preferably it ram 691 -acts as a bridge which is-normally open but which may be moved down into position to cause a roller which would ordinarily not engage the fixed cam 69 to be movedup into engagement with said fixed cam.

while this-picking upof the article from the shelf'at-the central station is taking place, that the buttons 54: are actuated 'bythe cam '91 upon the back of the carrier carriage, so that the carrier is not only loaded automatically but that at substantially the same instant its destination, or rather the point or station for which its contents are destined, is definitely determined by the completion of the above circuit through wire 41,

magnet 16,- etc. VVhenthe insulating friction strip 25 corresponding to the given station 0 is thus moved into engagement with the conductive dru1n'18 by the energization of its magnet 28, this results in agdeter- 'mined, slow rotary movement being imparted to the disk 19 since drum 18 is normally always rotating at a constant speed in the direction of the arrows thereupon, and

hence the spring 22 of such disk is gradually wound up. In the meanwhile, the carrier conveying the article despatched to station 0 is traversing the distance between the main station and said sub-station at arate which, while :it is greatly in excess ofthe speed of rotation of disk 19, is nevertheless directly proportioned thereto, and shortly before said carrier reaches said substation, disk 19 will have been rotated sufficiently to enable it to be snapped directly into engagement with the conductive drum 18 at the gap 25 in the insulating strip 25. This completes a circuit which controls the solenoid 57, since current will at such time be free to flow from positive lead '32; through contact strip 30, drum 18, disk19, arm 21, wire 24-, through the solenoid 57, and thence through wire 58 to the negative'lead 59. This energization of solenoid 57,.elevates its core. and thereby swings down the corresponding movable cam 67 into a position where roller 76 will encounter it. "As the carrier approaches the station at which t 1s to discharge, therefore, its said roller will ride up upon said movable cam, which will rotate arm 77 counter-cloclnvise until its extension 8% engages the operating arm 79 of said carrier; roller 76 in the meantime having ridden off of movable cam 67 onto fixed The movable cam hence in effect As the carrier progresses its roller 76 rides onto the farther portion of cam 69 and is thereby driven still further rotarily counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 8, which forces open the clamp, and swings the lower jaw 85 thereof from positive lead 32 through contact strip 30, drum 18, disk 19, arm 21, wire 24, through the solenoid 57, and thence through wire 58 to the negative lead 59.

This energization of solenoid 57 elevates its core and thereby swings down the corre- "sponding movable cam 67 into a pos1t1on where roller 7 6 will encounter it. As the carrier approaches the station at which it is to discharge, therefore, its said roller will ride up upon said movable cam, which will rotate arm 77 counter-clockwise until its extension Set engages the operating arm 79 of said carrier; roller 76 in the meantime having ridden off ofmovable cam 67 on to fixed cam 69. The movable cam hence in effect acts as a bridge which is normally open but which maybe moved down into position to cause a roller which would ordinarily not en- 1 gage the fixed cam 69 to be moved up into en-.

gagement with said fixed cam. As the carrier progressesits roller 7 6 rides on to the furfther portion of cam 69 and is thereby driven st1ll further rotarlly counter-clockwise as viewed in Fig. 8, which forces open the while at the same instant the pin or exten- -s1on'61' at the upper extremity of said core engaged the spring contact 62 and interrupted the circuit through wires 6% and 65.

This caused the de'e'nergization of the circuit-maintaining magnets 44 and 46 since both of these magnets are energized by current which flows through contacts 62 and 63. The buttons 36 and 545 were thereupon automatically returned to their normal posi-- ,tions by their respective springs 38 and 56. -S1multaneously the circuit through magnet 28 was interrupted across contacts 4:9i9' and the armature 27 was drawn away from magnet 28 by the resilient arm 21 which also freed disk 19 from the action of drum 18 and broke-the electrical connection therebetween. Spring 22 thereupon was free'to rotate drum 18 back to its normal position I and the partswere all hence in position tobe again set for the despatch of an article from the central desk to station 0 whenever the operator at said central station might see fit. It is obvious, of course, that pressure upon some other button, as for example, that marked D, corresponding to station (Z would effect a similar series of connections in the circuits controlling the discharge of an article at station d from any given carrier which may have been the first to encounter the shelf at the main station after said but- 1 ton D was depressed. Since normally all of the movable cams 67 are in their upper posltlons the rollers 76 of the respective carriers normally pass beneath these movable cams Without hindrance and therefore ,a

given carrier will only discharge at a de termined station when said movable cam has been moved into the path of its roller by means of the electrical connections and electricallyoperated instrumentalities above described. It is this particular feature which eliminates the necessity for very close ad- JlIStIIlBIltS 1f any considerable number of stations be employed in the system, the disposition ofthe gap 25in the insulating material 25, and the speed of rotation of the disk 19,

determining the distance which a given loaded carrier must traverse before the next cam switch which it must pass will be lowered or otherwise moved into the path of a the roller or some corresponding part of the load releasing mechanism.

' article at station 0, a. similar contact would not be made for, let us say, 15 seconds after the loadlng of a carrier which is to be dlscharged at station a, and correspondingly a like contact for station I) may be made, let us say, 20 seconds after the carrier is loaded at the main station, when said carrier is to discharge at station I), and so on.

If an operative at a sub-station desires tc despatch a message or other article to the chief operator at the central station it is merelysuflicient to place the article to be despatched in the receiving shelf 92of said station and, as thefirst approachingempty carried nears said sub-station, to pull the corresponding cord 71, which latches down the cam 67 of said station so that the approaching unloaded carrier will have its pick-up mechanism operated by the riding up of its roller 76 upon the cam 67 and thereafter by the further actuation of said roller by fixed cam 69, in substantially the manner above described. Thereafter the now loaded carrier will traverse the track or way toward the pulley 8 and .will pass therearound returning tothe central station along the upper side of the track andultimately depositing its load in the receptacle .93 at the central station in the manner inclicated. Obviously, the sub-station operative should not thus actuate his pull-cord 71 if an approaching carrier be already loaded.

It at times happens, owing to the disposistation operator is atstation d. Pressure.

upon the button 86 of this station will cause current to flow from wire 32 through wire 94 and magnet 44 at the central desk corresponding to button D, wire 4%, contacts 39 and 40, magnet 44L at sub-station d and wire 94: of said sub-station to the negative lead 59; thus energizing not only the magnet 44 at the particular sub-station in question, which thereupon maintains the:

- ative at station cl desires to despatch a message. Closure of the circuit across contacts 40 of button D will now have the same effect upon the system as pressure upon the button D by the central station-operator would have. The first car to pass the central station after this will be unloaded and will thereafter travel on toward station cl either with or without a loadwhioh it may pick up at the central station until it reaches sub-station d, whereupon since the friction insulating strip 25 corresponding to station cZ will have been engaged by drum 18 and rotated thereby .until its gap 25. shall have been snappedinto engagement with said drum, (this movement of said strip 25 be ginning at the instant that the said carrier passes the central desk and the said contact between disk 19 and drum 18 having been effected shortly before said carrier reached the bridge cam 67 of station cl) the roller 76 of said carrier will ride up upon this movable cam and the fixed cam 69 will then open the clamp of the carrier depositing therefrom any message or article'which it may have carried from the central desk, but in any case not closing until the said movable jaw is in position to pick up the article or message which the sub-station operative at (Z had previously deposited in his sending shelf 92. In other words wheneverv a bridge cam 67 is depressed and the roller of a carrier thereafter rides up upon said cam and from the latter on to the fixed cam 69, to open the clamp of said carrier and deposit articles therefrom into receptacle 93 of said station, said clamp will in no case again close until it reaches a position where it will unfailingly pick up any article adapted to be carried thereby which may be reposing in the corresponding shelf 9:2; fixed cam 69 being sufliciently extended to accomplish this action, as indicated in Fig. 1.

Ordinarily in a system actively in use it will not be necessary for the sub-station operatives 'toactuate either the buttons 36 or the cords 71; since the central station operator will be sending messages or articles from time to time to each of the sub-stations and if before the arrival of the loaded carrier at any given substation, the'operative thereat has placed the matter or articles to be returned to the central desk in his sending shelf, the said carrier will, for reasons above indicated, in such case perform the dual function of not only delivering the message or article to such station but of immediately thereafter picking up the message or article to be despatched'therefrom, and this without further attention on the part of the operative. It will, hence, be seen that my system is practically completely automatic and one of its principal advantages is that it may be extended indefinitely so that if desired a hundred or more stations may be conveniently served by it, a thing which, to the best of my knowledge, has heretofore been found to be utterly impracticable with known apparatus.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is 1. A delivery system for parcels, messages and like articles, which comprises a way having therealong a plurality of stations and automatic mechanism for conveying an article from one of said stations to and unloading said article at any other desired one of said stations, said mechanism including a plurality of' timing elements, one for each of said other stations, each ofsaid elements being adapted to time differently from the others of said elements to determine by the lapse of different periods of time the station at which said article is to be unloaded, said mechanism also including time element controlled means for unloading said article at said desired station after the lapse of the particular period of time allotted by the timing element corresponding to said last mentioned station.

2. A delivery system for parcels, messages and like articles, which comprises a' way having therealong a plurality of stations, automatic mechanism for conveying an article from one of said stations to and unloading said article at any other desired one of said stations, said mechanism including a plurality of timing elements, one for each of said other stations, each of said elements being adapted to time differently from the others of said elements to determine by the lapse of different periods of time the station at which said article is to be unloaded, said mechanism also including time element controlled means for unloading said article at said desired station after the lapse of the particular period of time allotted by the timing element corresponding to said desired station, and means, controlling parts of which are located at the station from which said article is despatched, for determining which of said timing elements is to become operative.

3. A delivery system for parcels, messages and like articles, which comprises a way having therealong a plurality of stations, automatic mechanism for conveying an article from one of said stations to and unloadingsaid article at any other desired one of said stations, said mechanism including a plurality of timing elements, one for each of said other stations, each of said ele ments being adapted to time differently from the others of said elements to determine by the lapse of different periods or time the station at which said article is to be unloaded, said mechanism also including time element controlled means for unloading said article at said desired station after the lapse of the particular period of time allotted by the timing element correspond ing to said desired station, and means for determining which of said timing elements is to become operative, whereby to predetermine the station at which said article will be discharged.

A delivery system for parcels, mes sages and like articles, which comprises a way having therealong a plurality of stations, automatic means for starting an article at one of said stations and conveying said article along said way past at least a second of said stations to another and predetermined station, and means including a timing mechanism, separate from the means for conveying said article for automatically unloading said article only at said predetermined station.

A delivery system for parcels, messages and like articles which comprises a way having therealong a plurality of stations, automatic means for conveying an article from one of said stations at which said article is despatched, past a second of said stations to another and predetermined station, means including variably acting timing mechanism for automatically unloading said article only at said predetermined station, said timing mechanism being separate and distinct from said conveying means, and means for setting said timing mechanism to time a determined period allot-ted for the transmission of an article from said despatching station substantially to said predetermined station.

6. A delivery system for parcels, messages and like articles which comprises a way having tlierealong a plurality of stations. automatic means for conveying an article from one of said stations at which said article is despatched, past a second of said stations to another and predetemined station, means including variably acting timing mechanism for automatically unloading said article only at said predetermined station, said timing mechanism being separate and distinct from said conveying means, and electrical means for setting said timing mechanism to time a determined period allotted for the'transmission of an .article from said despatching station substantially to said predetermined station.

7. A delivery system for parcels, messages and like articles which comprises a .way having therealong a plurality of stations, automatic means for conveying an .article from one of said stations at which said article is despatched, past a second of .said stations to another and predetermined station, means including a timing mechanism, operating continuously during the time of transit of the article to be conveyed,

.for automatically stopping said conveyance of said article at said predetermined station and means to thus continuously actuate said timing mechanism, and means for controlling said timing mechanism from said station from which said article is despatched.

, 8. A delivery system for parcels, messages and like articles which comprises a way having therealong a plurality of stations, automatic means for conveying an article from one of said stations at which said article is despatched, past a second of said stations to another and predetermined station, means including a timing mechanism operating continuously during the given period of time which it determines for automatically stopping said conveyance of said article at said predetermined station, and electrical means for controlling said timing mechanism from said station from which said article is despatched.

9. A delivery system for parcels, messages and like articles which comprises a way having therealong a plurality of stations, a carrier to travel along said way, means to propel said carrier along said way, and automatic means for unloading an article from said carrier at a predetermined one ofsaid stations, said means including a timeelement mechanism adapted to be set to run substantially coincidentally with the travel of said carrier while the latter is traversing said way between the one of said stations at which said article was despatched and said predetermined station and means to continuously operate said time-element mechanism during the time that it is thus set to run.

v 10. A delivery system for parcels, messages and like articles which comprises a way having therealong a plurality of stations, a carrier to travel along said way, means to propel said carrier along said way, automatic means for unloading an article from said carrier at a predetermined one of said stations, said means including a timeelement mechanism adapted to be set to run continuously substantially coincidentally with the travel of said carrier while the latter is traversing said way between the one of said stations at which said article was despatched and said predetermined station,

and means to set'said'mechanism to time said travel of said carrier and to thereby predetermine the station at whichsaid carrier is to discharge 11.. A. delivery system for parcels, messages and like articles which comprises a way having therealong a plurality of stations, a carrier to travel along said Way, means to propel said carrier along said way, automatic means for unloading an article from said carrier at a predetermined one of said stations, said means including a timeelement mechanism adapted to be set to run substantially coincidentally with the travel of said carrier while the latter is traversing said way between the one of said stations at which said article was despatched and said predetermined station, means to set said mechanism to time said travel of said carrier and to thereby predetermine the station at which said carrier is to discharge, and means to automatically return said timing mechanism to its normal position after it has timed said carrier in manner aforesaid.

12. A delivery system for parcels, messages and like articles, which comprises a way having a station from which articles are despatched, a carrier to travel along said way separate from the carrier, means to time the progress of said carrier along said way from said station to a point at which said carrier is to unload, means to automatically start said last mentioned means to time said carrier only after said carrier has passed a determined point in said way, and means, controlled by said timing means, for unloading said carrier at said first mentioned point.

13. A delivery system for parcels, messages and like articles, which comprises a way having a station from which articles are despatched, a carrier to travel along said -way,'means to load said carrier at'said station, means, separate from the carrier, to

time the progress of said carrier along said way from said station to a point at which said carrier is to unload, means to auto- .matically start said last mentioned means to time said carrier only after said carrier has passed a determined point in said way, and means, controlled by said timing means, for unloading said carrier at said first mentioned point.

14. A delivery system for parcels, mes sages and like articles, which comprises a way having a station from which articles are'despatched, a carrier to travel along said way, automatic means to load said carrier at said station, timing means adapted when once set in operation to of itself time the progress of said carrier along said way from said station to a point at which said carrier is to unload, means to automatically start said last mentioned means to time said car rier on y after said carrier has passed a determined point in said way, and means, controlled by said timing means, for .1111- loading said carrierat said first mentioned point.

15. A pick-up system for parcels, messages and like-articles, which comprisesva track having therealong a plurality of stations,-a despatching shelf-at atleast one of said stations, a pick-up carrier to travel along said track from said despatching shelf toward said other stations, means to propel said carrier alongsaid track,means to actuate parts ofsaid carrierto pick-up an article uponsaid shelf as said carrier passes the same,.and-means to actuate parts of said carrier to deposit said article at any predetermined one of said other stations, said last mentioned means including an operating part adjacent saidpredetermined station and normally out of the path of said carrier, a time-element mechanism adapted to be set to run for a determined period in substantial synchronism with the period during which said carrier is traveling from said shelf toward said operating part and means controlled by said time-element mechanism for placing said operating part in the path of said carrier.

16. A pick-up system for parcels, messages and like articles, which comprises a track having therealong a plurality of stations, a despatching shelf at at least one of said stations, a pick-up carrier .to travel alon said track from said despatching shelf toward said other stations, meansto propel said carrier along said track, means to actuate parts of said carrier to pick-up an article upon said shelf as said carrier passes the same, means to actuate parts of said carrier to deposit said article at any predetermined one of said other stations, said last mentioned means including an operatingpart adjacent said predetermined station and normally out of the path of said carrier, a time-element mechanism adapted to be :set to run for a determined period insubstantial synchronism with the period during which said carrier .is traveling from said shelf toward said operating part and means controlled by said time-element mechanism for placing said operating part in the path of said carrier.

17. A pick-up system for parcels, messages and like articles, which comprises a closed track having therealong a plurality of stations, a despatching shelf at at least one of said stations, a pick-up carrier to travel. along said track from said despatching shelf toward said other stations and then back toward said shelf, a cable to propel said carrier along said track, means to actuate parts of said carrier to pick-up an article upon said shelfas said carrier passes the same, and means to actuate parts-of said carrier to deposit said article at any predetermined one of said'other stations, said last mentioned means including an operating part adjacent said predetermined station and normally-out of the path of said carrier, a time-element mechanism adapted to be set'to run for a determined period in substantial synchronism with the period during which said carrier is-ltraveling from said shelf toward said operating part and means controlled by mechanism for placing said operating part in the path of said carrier.

18. A delivery system for parcels, messages and like articles, which comprises a track, a carrier to travel along said track, means to load said carrier at one point in said track, and means to unload said carrier at a second point in said track, said last mentioned means including a carrier-unloading I actuating member. mounted tomove with said carrier, an unloading cam substantially at said second point and adapted to operate said actuating member, said 1111-. loading cam beingnormally out of the path of saidmember, andmeans,controlled from said first point, for effecting an-engagement' between said actuating -member and said unloading cam.

:19. A delivery system for parcels, messages and like articles, which comprises .a track, a carrier to travel along said track, means to load said carrier at one point in said track, and means to unload' said carrier at a second point in said track, said last mentioned means including a carrier-unloading actuating member mounted to move with aid carrier,.an unloading cam substantially at said second pointand adapted -to operate said actuating member, said unloading cam being normally out of the pathof said memher, and means for effecting a relative move ment between said unloading cam andsaid actuating memberto permit of engagement therebetween vwhen said member company withsaid carrier. 4' I 20..:A delivery system for parcels, messages and like articles, which comprises :a

track,:a carrier'to travel loaded alongsaid track from a given pointtherein, and means to unload said'carrier at a second point in said track, said means comprising a carrierunloading actuating member mounted to move With said carrier, an unloading cam substantially at said second point and adapted to operate said actuating member, said unloading .cam being normally out of the path of said member, and means, controlled from said first point, for effecting an engagement between-said actuating'memher and said unloadingcam.

21. A delivery system for parcels, messages and like articles, which comprises a track, a carrier to travel loaded alon said trackfrom agiven -po int therein,and means said tinieelement has traveled substantially up to said :cam in to unload said carrier at any predetermined one of a plurality of points relatively remote from said first point, said means including a part at each of said plurality of points which 'is normally inoperative and unadapted to aifect the carrier when the latter is passing thereby, means to control said parts, means to set said controlling means to effect an actuation of a predetermined one of said parts, and means to jointly control the operation of said last mentioned means by the operative at, and by the pas sa e of said car past, said first mentioned point. i

22. A delivery system for parcels, messages and like articles, which comprises a track, a carrier to travel loaded along said track from a given point therein, and means to unload said carrier at any predetermined one of a plurality of points relatively remote from said first point, said means including a part at each of said plurality of points which is normally inoperative and unadapted to affect the carrier when the latter is passing thereby, means to control said parts, means to set said controlling means to effect an actuation of a predetermined one of said parts, and means to jointly and cooperatively control the operation of said last mentioned means manually and by the arrival of said car at a given point n said track.

' 23. A delivery system for parcels, mes

sages and like articles, which comprises a track, a plurality of carriers to travel along said track, means to unload any one of said carriers at any one of a plurality of stations along said track, and conjointly acting means to control said unloading means including a device adapted to be manually set to ultimately cause the unloading of a carrier at a given one of said stations and coacting mechanism controlled by the first of said carriers to pass a given point in said track, said device and mechanism having operative connections therebetween whereby whilethe setting of said device predetermines the station at which a carrier is to unload, the passage of a carrier past said given point is requisite to render operative said means to control said unloading means.

24. A delivery system for parcels, messages and like articles, which comprises a .track, a plurality of carriers to travel along said. track, means to unload any one of said carriers at any one of a plurality of stations along said track, and conjointly acting means to control said unloading means including a device adapted to be. manually set to ultimately cause the unloading of .a carrier at a given one of said stations, a second devicecontrolled bv the first of said carriers to .pass a given point in said track. a time element 7 mechanism jointly controlled by said first and second devices and operative connections between said devices and time element mechanism whereby while the setting of said first device predetermines the station at which a carrier is to unload, the passage of a carrier past said given point is requisite to render operative said time element mechanism to time said last mentioned carrier, said carrier unloading means including an operating part therefor which is controlled by said time element mecha nism after the latter has operated for a determined period subsequent to the passage of said carrier past said given point.

25. A delivery system comprising a way, a carrier to travel along said way, said way having therealong a station at which a load is emplaoed on said carrier and a plurality of other stations at which said load may be deposited, a carrier unloading operating part relatively adjacent each of said other stations, said parts being normally out of the path of said carrier, means to project any one of said operating parts into the path of said carrier after the lapse of a substantially determined period of time running from the despatching of the load, and means to predetermine which of said parts shall be so projected. i i

26. A delivery system comprising a way, a plurality of carriers to travel along said Way, said way having therealong a station at which a load is emplaced on any one of said carriers and a plurality of other stations at each of which said load may be deposited, car'rier unloading means, a part at least of which travels with each of said carriers, and controlling and timing mechanism for said parts, adapted when once set in operation to of itself cause the actuation of said part for a predetermined one of said carriers only at, a substantially determined period of time after said carrier has been loaded at said first mentioned station.

27. A delivery system comprising a way, a plurality of carriers to travel along said way, said way having therealong a station at which a load is emplaced on any one of said carriers and a plurality of other stations at each of which said load may be deposited, carrier unloading means, a part at least of which travels with each of said carriers, controlling mechanism for said parts to only actuate the said part for a predetermined one of said carriers, asubstantially determined period. of time after said carrier has been loaded at said first mentioned station, and means for variably determining said period of time in accordance With the station for which said load is destined.

28. A delivery system comprising a way,

a plurality of carriers to travel along said Way, said way having therealong a station at which a load is emplaced on any one of said carriers and a plurallty of other staise tions at each of which said load may be deposited, carrier unloading means, and con trolling and timing mechanism for said unloading means adapted when once set in operation to of itself cause the actuation of the latter for a predetermined one of said carriers, a substantially predetermined period of time after said carrier has been loaded at said first mentioned station.

29. A delivery system comprising a. way, a plurality of carriers to travel along said way, said way having therealong a station at which a load is emplaced on any one of said carriers and a plurality of other stations at each of which said load may be deposited, carrier unloadingmeans, controlling and timing mechanism for said unloading means adapted when once set in operation to of itself cause the actuation of the latter for a predetermined one of said carriers, a substantially predetermined period of time after said carrier has been loaded-at said first mentioned station, and means for variably determining said period of time in accordance with the station for which said lead is destined.

30. A delivery system comprising a way, a plurality of carriers to travel along said way, said way having therealong a station at which a load is emplaced on any one of said carriers and a plurality of other stations at each of which said load may be deposited, carrier unloading means, controlling and timing mechanism for said unloading means, adapted when once set in operation to of itself cause the actuation of the latter for a predetermined one of said carriers, a substantially predetermined period of time after said carrier has been loaded at said first mentioned station, and means at the loading station for variably determining said period of time in accordance with the station for which said load is destined.

31. A pick-up carrier system comprising a way having therealong a plurality of stations, carriers to travel along said way and having parts adapted to pick-up a load at any predetermined one of said stations, and means for predetermining the station at which said load is to be picked up, said means including a d vice at each of said stations for actuating the pick-up part of any one of said carriers, said devices being normally out of the path of said carriers and elements al o normally out of the path of said carriers and each adapted when in said path to effect an engagement between the pick-up part of any carrier which passes said element and the next pick-up actuating device which said carrier passes.

32. A pick-up carrier system comprising a way having therealong a plurality of stations, carriers to travel along said way and having parts adapted to pick-upa load "at."

any predetermined one of said stations, and means for predetermining the station at which said load is to be picked up, said means including a device at each of said stations for actuating a pick-up part of any one of said carriers, said devices being normally outot' the path of said carriers, elements also normally out of the path of said carriers and each adapted when in said path to effect an engagement between the pick-up part of any carrier which passes said element and the next pick-up actuating device which said carrier passes, and means for moving any desired one of said elements into the path of the carriers to predetermine the station at which the load is to be picked up.

33. A pick-up carrier system comprising a way having therealong a plurality of stations, carriers to travel along said way and having parts adapted to pick-up a load at any predetermined one of said stations, and means for predetermining the station at which said load is to be picked up, said means including a device at each of said stations for actuating a pick-up part of any one of said carriers, said devices being normally out of the path said carriers, elements also normally out of the path of said carriers and each adapted when in said path to effect engagement between the pick-up part of any carrier which passes said element and the next pick-up actuating device which said carrier passes, and means, at a point remote from the station at which the load is to be picked up, for controlling the movement into the path of the carriers of the one of said elements at the station at which the load is to be picked up.

34:. A pick-up carrier system comprising a way having therealong a plurality of stations, carriers to travel along said way and having parts adapted to pick up a load at any predetermined one of said stations, and means for predetermining the station at which said load is to be picked up, said means including a device at each of said stations for actuating a pick-up part of any one of said carriers, said devices being normally out of the path of said carriers, elements also normally out of the path of said carriers and each adapted when in said path to effect an engagement between the pick-up partof any carrier which passes said element and the next pick-up actuating device which said carrier passes, means for moving any desired one of said elements into thepath of the carriers to predetermine the station at which the load is to be picked up, and electrically controlled means for predetermining which of said carriers is to pick up the load. at said predetermined station. a

35. A pick-up carrier system comprising a way having therealong a plurality of stations, carriers to travel along said way and having parts adapted to pick-up a load at any predetermined one of said stations, and means for predetermining the station at which said load is to be picked up, said means including a device at each of said stations for actuating a pick-up part of any one of said carriers, said devices being normally out of the path of said carriers, elements also normally out of the path of said carriers and each adapted when in said path to effect an engagement between the pick-up part of any carrier which passes said element and the next pick-up actuating device which said carrier passes, means for moving any desired one of said elements into the path cf the carriers to predetermine the station at which the load is to be pickedup, and means for predetermining which of said carriers is to pick up the load at said predetermined station.

36. A pick-up carrier system comprising a way having therealong a plurality of stations, carriers to travel along said way and having parts adapted to pick-up a load at any predetermined one of said stations, and means for predetermining the station at which said load is to be picked up, said means including a device at each of said stations for actuating a pick-up part of any one of said carriers, said devices being normally out of the path of said carriers, elements also normally out of the path of said carriers and each adapted when in said path to effect an engagement between the pick-up part of any carrier which passes said element and the next pick-up actuating device which said carrier passes, and means, at a point remote from the station at which the load is to be picked up, for controlling the movement into the path of the carriers of the one of said elements at the station at which the load is to be picked up and for determining which of said carriers shall pick up said load.

37. A delivery system comprising a way having stations thcrealong, a plurality of carriers to travel along said way, means for automatically loading said carriers, and means at one of said stations for determining which of said carriers shall be auto- 39. A pick up and delivery system comprising a substantially horizontal way, a plurality of invariably identical pick-up carriers to travel along said way, said carriers each having means for picking up and thereafter supporting a load to be carried, means to propel said carriers, a central station and sub-stations along said way, means at said central station for actuating the pick-up means upon any one of said carriers, as the latter moves horizontally therepast, for emplacing upon said carrier a load destined for any predetermined one of said substations, and means for automatically unloading said carrier at said predetermined sub-station.

40. A delivery system comprising a way, a plurality of identical carriers to travel along said Way, means to propel said carriers, a central station and sub-staticns along said way, means at said central sta-' tion for despatching upon any one of said carriers a load destined for any predetermined one of said substations, means for automatically unloading said carrier at said predetermined substation, including a nor mally inoperative controlling part at each of said sub-stations, and means at said central station for rendering operative any desired one of said controlling parts.

A1. A delivery system comprising a way, a plurality of identical carriers to travel along said way,'means to propel said carriers, a central station and sub-stations along said way, means at said central station for despatching upon any one of said carriers a load destined for any predetermined one of said sub-stations, means for automatically unloading said carrier at said predetermined sub-station, including a normally inoperative controlling part at each of said sub-stations, and means at said central station for rendering operative any desired one of said controlling parts only after the lapse of a determined period of time running from the despatch of said load.

42. A pick-up system comprising a track, a plurality of pick-up carriers to travel on said track, a cable to propel said carriers, a central station and substations along said track, means at said central station for loading the next of said carriers which approaches said central station when a load is to be despatched, a contact making device comprising sets of contacts and circuit maintaining means therefor respectively corresponding to the several sub-stations, a station predetermining device comprising sets of contacts and circuit maintaining means therefor, respectively corresponding to the several sub-stations, a fixed cam at each of said sub-stations to unload any given carrier the pick-up mechan sm of which has beenarranged to co-act with said fixed cam, 21. bridge-cam at each of said suban electrically controlled circuit making time element device for each sub-station,

and electrical connections between the respective sets of contacts and maintaining means aforesaid, said time element devices and said electro-magnetic means, whereby when said station predetermining device has been set to cause the delivery of a load at a given sub-station, and after the carrier which is to convey said load has reached said contact making device, the time element device for said given sub-station will start to time said carrier and after the lapse of a determined period of time suflicient to enable said carrier to have passed the substation next preceding the determined one, will energize the electro-magnetic device corresponding to said determined sub-station to thereby operatively dispose said bridge cam to cause the carrier pick-up mechanism to co-act with the fixed cam at said sub-station and unload said carrier.

43. A pick-up system comprising a track, a plurality of pick-up carriers each having an actuating part for unloading said carriers, a plurality of stations along said track each having a fixed unloading cam normally out of the pat-h of said actuating parts, a movable bridge for each of said fixed cams adapted when in one position to guide the actuating part of a carrier approaching the corresponding station, onto the corresponding unloading cam, and means, controlled from a remote point, for moving the said bridge of any of said stations out of a. normal position into the position aforesaid.

4-1. A pick-up system comprisinga track, a plurality of pick-up carriers each having an actuating part for unloading said carriers. a plurality of stations along said track each having a fixed unloading cam normally out of the path of said actuatin parts, a movable bridge for each of said fixed cams adapted when in one position to guide the actuating part of a carrier approaching the corresponding station, onto the corresponding unloading cam, and means for moving the said bridge of any of said stations out of a normal position into the position aforesaid.

45. A pick-up system comprising a track, a plurality of pick-up carriers each having an actuating part for unloading said carriers. a plurality of stations along said track each having an unloading cam normally out of the path of said actuating parts, a movable bridge for each of said cams adapted when in one position to guide the actuating part of a carrier approaching the corresponding station, onto the corresponding unloading cam, and means, for moving the said bridge of any of said stations out of a normal position into the position aforesaid.

46. A delivery system for parcels, messages and like articles which comprises a way having therealong a plurality of stations, automatic means for conveying an article from one of said stations at which said article isdespatched, past a. second of said stations to another and predetermined station, and means including a timing mechanism, an electromagneticdevice at said predetermined station and electrical connections between said timing mechanism and said device for automatically stopping said conveyance of said article/at said predetermined station. v

47. A pick-up system for parcels, messages and like articles, which comprises a track having therealong a plurality of stations, means for holding an article to be despatched at at least one of said stations, a pick up carrier to travel along said track fromsa-id holding means toward said other stations, means to propel said carrier along said track, means to actuate parts of said carrier to pick up an article from said holding means as said carrier passes the same, and means to actuate parts of said carrier to deposit saidarticle at any predetermined one of said other stations, said last mentioned means-including an operating part adjacent said predetermined station, which'part is normally inoperative, a time-element mechanism adapted to be set to run for a determined period in substantial synchronism with the period'during which said carrier is traveling from saidholding means toward said operating part-and means controlled by said time-element mechanism for rendering operative said-operating part as said carrier approaches the same; o

48. A pick-up system for parcels, messages and like articles, which comprises a track having therealong a plurality of stations, means for holding an article to be despatched at at least one of said stations, a pick up carrier to travel along said track from said holding means toward said other stations, means to propel said carrier along said track, means to actuate parts of said carrier to pick up an article from said holding means as said carrier passes the same, and means to actuate parts of said carrier todeposit saidarticle at any predetermined one of said other stations, said last mentioned means including an electrically conductive operating part, adjacent said predetermined station, which part is normally inoperative, a time-element mechanism adapted to be set to run for a determined period in substantial synchronism with the period during which said carrier is traveling from said holding means toward said operatingipart and means controlled by said time-element mechanism for electrically entively remote from said first point, said means including a part at each of said plurality of points which is normally inoperative and unadapted to affect the carrier when the latter is passing'thereby, timeelement means to control said parts, constantly operative power supplying connections between said carrier and apart of said time element means, and means to set said controlling means to render operative a determined one of said parts. V

50. A delivery system for parcels, messages and like articles, which comprises'a track, a plurality of carriers to travel along said track, means to unload any one of said carriers at any one of a plurality of stations along said track, and jointly acting means to control said unloading means including a device adapted to be manually set toultimately cause the unloading of a carrier at a given one of said stations, co-acting mechanism controlled by the first of said carriers to pass a given point in said track, and a carrier controlling time-element device having a time measuring part movable in close correspondence with the movement of a loaded carrier and started into operation by said passage of said carrier past said given point, said devices and mechanism having operative connections therebetween whereby while the setting of said first mentioned device predetermines the station at which a carrier is to unload, the passage of a carrier past said given point is requisite to render operative said means to control said unloading means, and said time-element device of itself determines the stat on at which said loaded carrier is unloaded.

51. A delivery system for parcels, messages and like articles, which comprises a track, a plurality of carriers to travel along said track, means to unload any one of said carriers at any one of a plurality of stations along said track, and conjointly acting means to control said unloading means including a device adapted to be manually set to ultimately cause the unloading of a carrier at a given one of said stations, a second device controlled by the first of said carriers to pass a given po nt in said track, a time-element mechanism jointly controlled by said first and second devices and operative connections between said devices and time-element mechanism whereby while the setting of said first device predetermines the station at which a carrier is to unload, the

passage of a carrier past said given point is requisite to render operative said time-eles ment mechanism to time said last mentioned carrier, said time-element mechanism being distinct from said carrier.

52. A delivery system comprising a way, a plurality of carriers to travel along said way, said way having therealong a station at which a load is emplaced on any one of said carriers, and a plurality of other stations at each of which said load may be deposited, carrier unloading means a part of which is at each of said other stations, con trolling and timing mechanism for said carrier unloading means to only render operative the said part for a predetermined one of said other stations, a substantially determined period of time after said carrier has passed all stations which may lie along its path of travel toward the station at which said load is to be deposited, and means to actuate said timing mechanism during the whole of said period of time.

53. A delivery system comprising a way, a plurality of carriers to travel along said way, said way having therealong a station at which a load is emplaced on any one of said carriers, and a plurality of other stations at each of which said lead may be deposited, carrier unloading means a part of which is at each of said other stations, controlling mechanism for said carrier unloading means to only render operative the said part for a predetermined one of said other stations, a substantially determined period of time after said carrier has been loaded at said first mentioned station, and means to actuate said controlling mechanism during substantially the whole of said period of time.

54. A delivery system comprising a way, a plurality of carriers to travel along said way, said wav having therealong a station at which a load is emplaced on any one of said carriers and a plurality of other stations at each of which said load may be deposited, carrier unloading means, a part at least of which travels with each of said carriers, controlling mechanism for said parts to only actuate the said part for a predetermined one of said carriers, a substantially determined period of time after said carrier has passed all stations. which may lie along its path of travel toward the station at which said lead is to be deposited, and means to actuate said controlling mechanism during substantially the whole of said period of time.

55. A pick-up carrier system comprising a way having therealong a plurality of stations, carriers to travel along-said way and having parts adapted to pick up a load at any predetermined one of said stations, and means for predetermining the station at which said load is to be picked up, said means including a device at each of said stations for actuating a pick-up part of any one of said carriers, said devices being normally out of the path of said carriers, elements also normally out of the path of said carriers and each adapted when in said path to effect an engagement between the pick-up part of any carrier which passes said element and the next pick-up actuating device which said carrier passes, and means, at a point remote from the station at which the load is to be picked up, for controlling the movement into the path of the carriers of the one of said elements at the station at which the load is to be picked up.

56. A pick-up system for parcels, messages and like articles, which comprises a track having therealong a plurality of stations, means for holding an article to be despatched at at least one of said stations, a pick up carrier to travel along said track from said holding means toward said other stations means to propel said carrier along said track, means to actuate parts of said carrier to pick up an article from said holding means as said carrier passes the same, and means to actuate parts of said carrier to deposit said article at any predetermined one of said other stations, said last mentioned means including an electrically conductive operating part, a time-element mechanism adapted to be set to run for a determined period in substantial synchronism with the period during which said carrier is traveling from said holding means toward said operating part and means controlled by said timeelement mechanism for electrically energizing said operative part.

57. A delivery system comprising a way having stations therealong, a plurality of carriers to travel along said way, means for automatically loading said carriers, means at one of said stations for determining which of said carriers shall be automatically loaded by said loading means at another of said stations, and means for automatically unloading said loaded carrier.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES T. COWLEY.

iVitnesses:

C. L. JENNINGS, T. M. LEE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,170,048, granted February 1,

1916, upon the application of James T. Cowley, of North Scituate, Massachusetts,

for an improvement in Distributing Systems, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 8, claim 12, strike out line 94 and insert the Words and commas way, means, separatefrom the carrier, to; and

that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 30th day of January, A. D., 1917.

i F. W. H. CLAY,

Acting Commissioner fPatenis.

[SEAL] Cl. 186l5. 

